Use What You Have: Let God Multiply It

Aug 30, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: A Boy’s Lunch in a Sea of Need

Jesus didn’t ask for a banquet—He asked for availability. When faced with thousands of hungry people, Andrew spotted a child with five barley loaves and two fish. The disciples saw scarcity, but Jesus saw potential. God’s miracles often begin with ordinary people willing to offer their “not enough.” The question isn’t what’s missing, but what’s already in your hands. [21:06]

And one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
(John 6:8-9, KJV)

Reflection: What “barley loaves” have you undervalued in your life? How might God want to multiply what you’ve dismissed as insignificant?

Day 2: From My Hands to His Hands

Miracles happen when ownership becomes surrender. The boy’s lunch was meant for his stomach, but in Jesus’ hands, it fed thousands. What we cling to remains limited; what we release becomes limitless. Your gifts, time, or resources are only truly useful when placed in the hands of the One who designed them. [25:39]

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
(John 6:11, KJV)

Reflection: What have you been keeping in your hands out of fear or self-reliance? What would it look like to open your palms to God today?

Day 3: Leftovers and Legacy

After the crowd ate, twelve baskets of fragments remained—more than they started with. God’s math turns small obedience into overflowing abundance. Your “yes” today could leave a legacy of provision for others tomorrow. Don’t underestimate the ripple effect of faithful action. [34:01]

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
(John 6:12-13, KJV)

Reflection: What practical step can you take this week to “distribute” your gifts to others? Who in your circle needs the overflow of what God’s given you?

Day 4: Young Hands, Eternal Impact

The unnamed boy didn’t wait for adulthood to participate in miracles. Like David’s sling or Timothy’s leadership, God uses willing hearts, not résumés. Youth isn’t a limitation—it’s an invitation. The church needs every generation’s hands at work today, not tomorrow. [22:14]

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(1 Timothy 4:12, KJV)

Reflection: What’s one way you can actively contribute to God’s work right now, without waiting for “someday”? How can you encourage someone younger to offer their gifts today?

Day 5: Ordinary Ingredients, Divine Hands

The same fish that was a snack became a feast when transferred to Jesus’ hands. Your abilities, relationships, and resources don’t need upgrading—they need surrendering. Stop focusing on the “what” and start trusting the “Who.” [28:23]

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
(Exodus 4:2-4, KJV)

Reflection: What “rod” are you holding onto—something ordinary God wants to transform? How might viewing your life through His hands change your perspective on today’s challenges?

Sermon Summary

John chapter 6 opens with a huge crowd, a hungry need, and a question from Jesus that Philip cannot answer by looking at the numbers. Jesus already knows what He is going to do, even while Philip sees only the cost, the crowd, and everything that is missing. Faith trusts that God knows what He is doing when God gives direction without an explanation and a command without a blueprint.

Philip’s calculation is not wrong, but Philip’s conclusion leaves Jesus out. Comparison keeps people focused on somebody else’s voice, resources, opportunities, and five loaves until they miss the two fish in their own bag. God does not call people to become somebody else. God asks, “What do you have?”

Andrew notices a young boy in a crowd of thousands, and that boy has something Jesus can use right now. The young boy has no title, no name recorded, and no place among the twelve, but his ordinary barley loaves become part of a miracle. Young people are not merely the church of tomorrow because God can use their prayer, leadership, worship, discipline, creativity, and influence today. The church must notice what God has placed in young people and give those gifts room to grow.

The five loaves and two fish look small against a huge need, but Jesus never asks the boy to feed the multitude. Jesus only requires that what the boy has become available. Potential requires participation, and participation requires availability. Surrender places time, creativity, resources, discipline, gifts, and even valuable personal plans into the hands of God.

Jesus takes the same bread and fish, gives thanks, and distributes them until everybody is filled. The ingredients do not change, but the possibilities change because of whose hands they are in. Moses’ rod, David’s sling, the widow’s oil, and the boy’s lunch all testify that God can use what seems little when it is put in His hands.

The call to respond moves people off the sidelines and into the work. God alone saves, changes hearts, and performs miracles, but God still gives His people assignments to teach, encourage, organize, mentor, serve, reach the community, and develop what He has given them. A gift without an assignment becomes wasted potential.

Jesus gathers twelve baskets after feeding the crowd, proving that what looked insufficient became more than enough in His hands. Christ’s wounded hands on Friday and victorious hands on Sunday give every believer reason to trust Him with gifts, fears, future, and life. God can take what is available and use it farther than anybody can see.

Key Takeaways

1. Calculate God into the equation Philip counted the crowd, the cost, and the shortage, but Philip forgot who asked the question. Faith does not deny the numbers or pretend that needs are small. Faith refuses to let human limits become the final answer when Jesus is present. [18:35]
2. Stop comparing somebody else’s five loaves Comparison keeps moving the finish line and makes people despise what God placed in them. God did not assign anybody to become a copy of another person’s gift, voice, or opportunity. God calls each person to recognize the two fish already in their own bag. [19:37]
3. Make what you have available The boy’s lunch had value because the boy needed it too, and that is what made the surrender real. Surrender is not giving God what costs nothing. Surrender places something valuable in Jesus’ hands and trusts His purpose more than personal control. [26:59]
4. Put your gift in the right hands The bread and fish remained the same, but Jesus’ hands changed what they could become. God does not require people to perform the miracle or know every outcome beforehand. God asks for the gift, the willingness, and the yes. [28:10]
5. Get off the sidelines and use it God’s power never excuses participation. Gifts become fruitful when they receive an assignment in service to God and people. The work starts now, not when everything feels perfect or somebody finally calls a name.

## [40:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:21] - John 6 and the Feeding Miracle
[09:57] - Use What You Have
[12:46] - Jesus Already Knows What He Will Do
[16:14] - Recognize What Is Available
[17:41] - Philip’s Calculation Leaves Out God
[20:33] - The Young Boy Has Something to Offer
[25:03] - Release What You Have
[28:10] - Different Hands, Different Possibilities
[30:44] - Respond With What God Gave You
[34:01] - Twelve Baskets of Leftovers
[39:03] - Recognize, Release, Respond
[42:07] - Trusting the Hands of Jesus
[44:34] - The Gift God Put in You
[48:24] - Prayer to Be Used by God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 6:5-13
“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.” [08:11] [08:36] [09:57]

Exodus 4:2
“And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.” [29:25]

1 Samuel 17:40
“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” [29:25]

2 Kings 4:2
“And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.” [29:25] [49:33]

Observation questions

What details in John 6 show the difference between what Philip sees and what Jesus already knows?
Andrew notices the boy and his lunch, yet he also asks, “What are they among so many?” What does Andrew recognize, and what does he still minimize? [23:17]
What does Jesus tell the disciples to do before the food is distributed, and what does He tell them to do after everyone is full?
What ordinary items are named in the stories of Moses, David, the widow, and the young boy? What do these items have in common? [29:09]

Interpretation questions

Philip’s numbers were not necessarily wrong, but his conclusion left Jesus out. What is the difference between honestly recognizing a need and allowing that need to become the final answer? [18:07]
Jesus knew what He was going to do, but He still involved the disciples in seating the crowd and distributing the food. What does this show about God’s power and His people’s responsibility? [30:44]
The boy was unnamed, young, and not one of the twelve disciples. Why does his part in this miracle matter for people who believe they do not have a title, platform, or major role?
The bread and fish did not change before Jesus took them, but their possibilities changed in His hands. What does this teach about surrendering gifts, time, resources, and personal plans to Christ? [28:10]

Application questions

What situation in your life have you been calculating by your money, age, experience, past mistakes, or lack of connections? How might it change your outlook to calculate God into the equation? [18:43]
Where has comparison been making you overlook the “two fish in your own bag”? Name one ability, experience, burden, relationship, or resource God may already have placed in your hands. [20:02]
Is there a gift in you that you have minimized because it seems ordinary or small? What would it look like to stop calling insignificant what God has given you? [39:03]
The boy’s lunch mattered because it was valuable to him too. What is something valuable—time, comfort, creativity, money, influence, or a personal plan—that may be difficult for you to make available to Jesus? [26:59]
What is one practical assignment where your gift could serve others right now: encouraging someone, mentoring a young person, helping in the community, teaching, organizing, using technology, cooking, or another need? [32:21]
Are you waiting to feel more ready, more qualified, or more noticed before serving? What is one small step you can take this week to move from the sidelines into faithful participation? [40:10]
How can the group better notice, encourage, and create room for the gifts God has placed in young people as well as older adults? [22:37]

Sermon Clips

54s

#IncludeGodInTheCount

“Philip immediately starts calculating. He looks at size of the crowd, considers how much bread they would need, considers how much money it would cost, and his conclusion is simple. We don't have enough. And to be fair, Philip, his mouth is probably right. The problem is not necessarily his calculation. The problem is what his calculation leaves out, and that is Jesus. Philip calculates the crowd. He calculates the cost, the bread, but Philip forgets to calculate who asked the question. And sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, our calculations are accurate, but our conclusions are wrong because we calculated everything except God.”

54s

#MoveInFaith

“god gives you a command without a blueprint. Sometimes, god would tell you to move while you're still trying to figure out how everything is going to come together, and that's where faith comes in, ladies and gentlemen, because faith says, I don't know what god is doing, but I trust that god knows what he's doing. He already knows how to fix it, knows where a provision is coming from. He already knows how who is going to use. And if he already knows what he is going to do, maybe our responsibility isn't to figure out what god is going to do. Maybe our responsibility is to figure out what god wants us to do. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, watch what happens in the text. Jesus”

50s

#PotentialRequiresParticipation

“The Bible does not tell us, but we do know that what he had became available to Jesus. Catch this. There is a difference between having something and making it available. You can have it, but he ain't giving it to nobody. You can have the gift, but you ain't using it. You can have the compassion and never serve. You can have the calling and never answer. You can have potential and never become productive because potential by itself does not change anything. Here it is, Potential requires participation. Amen. And participation requires availability. The question then becomes, what are you willing to give to god? This”

40s

#RecognizeWhatYouHave

“Ladies and gentlemen, before Jesus, multiplies anything, somebody has to recognize what is already available. Let me say it again. Before he multiplies anything, somebody has to recognize what is already available. And maybe the miracle you've been waiting on does not begin with something falling out of heaven. Maybe it begins when you finally recognize what God has already placed your hands. And that's the first thing I need you to understand today. Recognize what you have. Turn to a neighbor and say recognize.”

50s

#PrayAndWork

“We can pray and still have work to do. We can believe God and still have work to do. We can worship God and still have work to do. There are some things only god can do. He can he is the only one who can save, the only one who can change hearts. He's the only one that can perform miracles, but there are some things god has told us to do. We cannot pray, lord, reach people and never talk to nobody. We cannot pray, lord, help the young people and never mentor. We cannot pray, lord, help our community and never go into the community. At some point, the work starts now.”

37s

#ComparisonKillsPurpose

“Somebody will always have something you don't have. If you base your value on comparison, you will never feel valuable because comparison always moves the finish line. When you get what you thought you wanted, somebody will have something else. When you reach the level you thought you would make you happy, somebody gonna have a higher level. Ladies and gentlemen, children, comparison will keep you chasing life God never assigned to you.”

40s

#SurrenderYourGifts

“So it had value to him. And surrender says, Jesus, I'm willing to place something valuable to me in your hands. Ladies and gentlemen, that is real surrender that my time, my availability, my creativity, my resources belong to you. And young people, you gotta learn this before the world teaches you otherwise. Your gifts were not given to you to make you popular. Your intelligence was not given to you just to make money. Yes. It's gonna make you money, but you ought to use it for God too.”

34s

#ServeNowRegardlessAge

“Young people, you are not just here so we can prepare you for twenty years later. Amen. You can pray and worship now. You can serve and lead now. You can encourage somebody now. You can invite somebody to church now. You can make good decisions now. You are not too young. Amen. And let me help us because before the senior saint say, well, he ain't talking to me today. You are not too old to be used for the god.”

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Pastor Everett Johnson This sermon · AI assistant

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